Western riding wrangling new crop of off-the-track participants

Cover photo: Equinox Images

By Andrew Smith

The variety of disciplines on offer in English riding has long provided a suitable pathway for racehorses to transition into their post-racing lives.

But it is Western riding that is proving to be a new popular avenue for both thoroughbreds and standardbreds enjoying their off-the-track careers.

The growing popularity of Western riding was no more evident than at the recent Cowgirls Gathering event in early October.

Having started in 2021, the annual event is held at Kilkivan, west of Gympie, and features classes, clinics, competitions and interactive demonstrations with educators, along with live music and entertainment every night.

Cowgirls Gathering Sponsorship Manager Vera Gentner said around 600 people had attended the three-day event over the King’s Birthday long weekend this year.

“It’s basically a gathering and celebration of the Aussie cowgirl, and women who like the Western style of riding coming together in a safe space,” Gentner said.

“There are so many different things to do, and you don't even have to take a horse, it can be with or without a horse.

“Some of the top clinicians from around the country come and do the clinics and the demos and competitions, and it’s just a fabulous atmosphere and a lot of fun.”

One event specifically tailored to showcase the potential of off-the-track horses is the popular Race to Ranch competition.

The event includes groundwork, trail tasks, ranch-style obstacles, and low-pressure ridden activities, each designed to suit horses at different stages of their re-education journey.

It was Sandra Hagan and former galloper Ghabbie who took out this year’s top prize, which included $500 from the Queensland Off-The-Track (QOTT) Program.

QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer Alexandra Kelly finished second in the event with Flying Tyrol, while Hagan rounded out the placings with another off-the-track horse in ProGirl.

Gentner said the Race to Ranch had been the perfect platform for retired racehorses to show off their new skills.

“The participants only get a limited amount of time to show off that they can retrain a retired racehorse for a completely different discipline,” Gentner said.

“There are a couple of different events in the Race to Ranch competition where they get to showcase their versatility, and it’s always a fun one to watch.

“There's a bit of a freestyle one, a bit of dry work, a bit of mechanical cow, and a bit of an obstacle course called the ranch trail, so it’s awesome to see them getting a new lease on life and showcasing what they can actually do.

“I always had that vision in my head of the off-the-tracks being hot and naughty and hard to handle, but they're just cool as cucumbers.”

Event organisers are hopeful for a boost in the number of standardbreds entering the 2026 Cowgirls Gathering.

The rise in popularity of Western riding, especially through recent TV series like Yellowstone, has seen a rise in participants keen to give the discipline a try.

“I'm a Western rider but my daughter years ago used to be in Pony Club and English riding like showjumping and eventing and dressage,” Gentner said.

“You saw plenty of retired racehorses there, and that was fantastic, but they're really starting to gain more popularity in the Western world.

“I think events like Cowgirls Gathering make people's ears prick up and go ‘Oh wow, I never thought of that for an off-the-track horse,’ and that they’d actually like to give it a go.

“So it makes people kind of stand up and take notice, and that's why that event is so popular.

“I’ve got quarter horses and they’re obviously a popular breed for the Western shows and in all honesty, I would 100% be considering an off-the-track horse now, just because I've seen with my own eyes how versatile they are through Pony Club and through the western riding that I do.”

 Gentner said the support from the QOTT Program had proven to be extremely valuable in attracting a new crop of talent.

The QOTT Program provided $1000 for the event which was split across the top four finishers in the Race to Ranch event.

“It was decent prizemoney which we awarded to the first four place-getters,” Gentner said.

“I think it just encourages people to nominate - the shows that I go to, if there is prizemoney involved it might be $25 and it does cost us to keep our horses.

“So I think the prizemoney is definitely worthwhile and to have that support from Racing Queensland was just awesome.”

Click here to read more about the QOTT Event Sponsorship Program.